Cosmetic applicator



Dec. 26, 1967 F. CISHEK ET Al.

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United States Patent O 3,359,992 COSMETIC APPLICATR Frank 'Cishek and Eustace Fotiu, Mahwah, NJ., assignprs to Avon Products, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 409,362 Claims. (Cl. 132-85) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A product applicator having a tubular housing, a complementary shaped product holding container slidably positioned within the housing for movement between a retracted position in the housing and an extended dispensing position, and a product dispensing plunger slidably positioned within the container rearwardly of the product therein.

The present invention relates `to a product applicator and more particularly to an applicator for use with cosmetics in which the cosmetic, such as lipstick, is dispensed through a brush `and in which the brush is automatically retracted into the housing of the applicator when the 'applicator is not being used.

Presently, there are two generally accepted ways of supplying makeup such as lipstick; one is in the stick form and the other is in the cream or liquid-like form. Both of these arrangements, however, present certain disadvantages.

Where lipstick is supplied in the stick form, it is usually held at one end by a holder mechanism which is in turn received within a suitable applicator housing. The holder and housing of such a construction are connected to each other so that the holder may be moved relative to the housing from a first position in whic-h the stick is disposed in retracted orientation within the housing to a second position in which the stick is disposed in an extended or exposed position. Movement of the holder and lipstick relative to the applicator housing in either direction is eected by making certain manipulations, such as by relatively rotating the holder and housing. In this Way, the lipstick may be extended for use and retracted for storage. Applicators as just described are ordinarily provided with a suitable cover adapted to be telescopically received over the open end of the housing for enclosing the -lipstick within the housing when not in use. In positioning the cover on the applicator housing, care must be taken so as not to damage the lipstick. The simplest way of doing this is to move the lipstick to its retracted position before attaching the cover. If on the other hand, the lipstick is left in its extended position, careless attaching of the cover may cause damage to the lipstick or may cause lipstick to smear over the inside of the cover and be transferred to the underlying portion of 'applicator housing. The disadvantages of this are apparent.

With lipstick that is provided in a liquid or cream like form, a separate container and brush must 'be included for applying the cream. Generally, the brush technique of applying lipstick is superior to the well-known stick lipstick since more definitive lines or outlines may be produced. However, there are two primary disadvantages inherent in the conventional brush on type of lipstick. First, this type of construction requires the separate container and brush, and secondly, it presents an arrangement in which there exists the possibility of spilling, since the container must be opened to permit access to the product.

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a lipstick applicator for use in dispensing a ilowable, cream-like cosmetic coloring product is constructed in such a manner whereby the advantages of both the convenice tional stick and cream types of applicators are obtained while the disadvantages thereof are avoided.

Generally, the applicator of the present invention includes a tubular housing into the open end of which is slidably mounted a tubular container for holding the cream-like lipstick. Means are provided for urging the container into a normally retracted position so that the brush is effectively positioned in protected fashion within the housing structure during non-use. The container holding the lipstick is provided at one end with a brush and at the other end with a plunger mechanism in turn operatively connected to the housing whereby, under certain conditions, relative rotation of the container and housing may be eifected to cause cosmetic to be forced from the container and into the bristles of the brush.

The applicator is 4further provided with a tubular cover member which is adapted to be releasably positioned over the open end of the housing for enclosing the lipstick applicator brush. This cover member, however, is also adapted to be positioned over the opposite end of the housing, and in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, must be so positioned in order to extend the lipstick 'brush into operative, dispensing position.

Removal of the cover from this latter position automatically causes the lipstick container and brush to retract into the applicator housing and thereby automatically orients the ybrush so that subsequent replacement of the cover over the open end of the housing will not damage the retracte-d brush -or permit lipstick to he smeared along the inside of the cover and in turn along the outside of the applicator housing. Als-o, this arrangement prevents the user from rotating the lipstick container relative to the applicator housing unless the lipstick brush is positioned in an extended, dispensing position and thereby prevents accidental dispensing of the lipstick.

A fuller understanding of the present invention may lbe obtained from a reading of the following detailed description with reference bein-g made to the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. l is a partial cross-sectional View of the applicator `of the present invention in its normally closed position;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section view taken at right angles to the `View of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the applicator with the parts in operative dispensing position;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. l; and

FIG. 5 is Ia cross-sectional view taken along lines 5 5 of FIG. 3.

As shown in the drawings, the applicator comprises a tubular housing `1 having an open forward end 2 and a closed rearward end j3. Intermediate the ends of the housing 1 is a pair of diametrically opposed openings 4, 5 extending longitudinally of the housing.

A product container 6 having a shape complementary to that of the housing is slidably positioned within the housing adjacent the open end thereof with the walls of the container spaced vfrom the inner walls of the housing. The container 6 is provided with Ia dispensing end 7 to which is attached a brush assem'bly generally designated 8.

This brush assembly includes a -ferrule 9 that is fixed to the dispensing end of the container rby means of a threaded nut 10 in turn press-lit into the dispensing end of the product container. The upper end of the ferrule is tapered as shown and terminates in an opening 9a. A plurality of bristles defining a brush 11 extend from within the -ferrule to an exposed position and an open-ended tu'be member 12 is centrally positioned within the bristles with one end terminating at the lower end yof the brush and the other end terminating in the interior portion thereof located :beyond the open end of the ferrule. The brush and tube are held in position by the constriction of the ferrule at its open end and the tu-be member thus provides communication between the interior of the brush 11 and the interior of the product container 6.

A support member 13 having a threaded bore 14 is press tit into the end of the product container opposite the brush assembly. A plunger member 15 having a rearwardly extending rod 16 is threadably engaged in this bore and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the rod member is provided with at sides 17 with the threaded portions thereof on the surfaces intermediate these liats. The shape of the plunger head is made complementary to the interior shape of the product container 6 and is provided with a suitable O-ring seal 18 which is recessed in the plunger as shown. The lipstick or other product to be dispensed is held within the product container 6 between its dispensing end 7 and the plunger 15 and the O-ring prevents leakage of the product rearwardly past the head of the plunger.

For controlling the position of the container 6 within the housing 1 and for controlling the position of the plunger 15 within the container, a collar member 19 is positioned within the housing between its rearward end and the rearward end of the container, As shown in the drawings, this collar member is provided with outwardly extending lugs 20 which extend through the openings 4, of the housing. The collar member is `separate from both the container and housing, and the extent of its movement longitudinally of the housing is determined by the length of the longitudinally extending openings 4, S of the-housing.

The collar member is provided with a central opening 21 through which the rod 16 of the plunger mechanism is adapted to extend. The opening 21 is of a shape generally the same as the cross-sectional shape of the rod so that the rod may slide through the collar member 19 in a direction longitudinally of the housing but is prevented from rotating relative thereto.

As shown in FIG. l, the container is in a retracted position within the housing. This is its normal position when the applicator is not being used. To hold the container in this position, a compression spring 22 is positioned in the space provided between the opposed walls of the housing and the container. As shown in FIG. 3, the lower end of the container is provided with 4an outwardly ared seat 23 while the upper end thereof is provided with an inwardly extending seat member Z4 secured to the housing by any suitable means s'uch as a press-lit. These seats engage the opposite ends of the compression spring 22 and are thus normally urged away from each other. This, in turn, urges the container in a downward direction and into retracted position within the housing. This downward urging of the container also acts to urge the rearward end of the container into abutment with the collar member 19 and thus moves the latter downwardly within the housing, the limit of the downward movement of the collar member, and at the same time the container, being reached when the lug members 2ul of the collar engage the rearward ends of the openings 4, 5 in the housing.

With this orientation of the container and the housing, a suitable cap member 25 may he advantageously positioned over the open end of the housing to fully enclose the container and the brush assembly therein. The cover member is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in this position and as represented by these views, its limit of movement over the open end of the container is determined by its engagement with the outwardly extending lugs 20 of the collar member. In order to hold the cover in this position, the housing, in the area of the longitudinally extending openings 4, S and intermediate these openings is provided with laterally extending projections 26 shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 which frictionally engage the interior wall surface of the cover.

When it is desired to position the container 6 and the brush assembly 8 in their extended, operative dispensing position as shown in FIG. 3, the cap member 2S is removed from the open end of the housing and positioned on the housing over its lower end 3. As the cap member is slid over this portion of the housing, its open end will engage the outwardly extending lugs 20 of the collar member and force them upwardly within the openings 4, 5. This in turn will cause the container 6 to move outwardly of the housing. When the container and brush assembly are in their fully extended position, the cover member will be engaged by the outwardly extending projections 26 of the housing whereby the container will be held in its operative position for use in dispensing the product from the container outwardly through the brush.

With the parts in this position, dispensing of the product is effected by longitudinal movement of the plunger 1S within the container and this latter movement is produced when the container, in its extended position, is rotated relative to the applicator housing. Due to the threaded construction of the support member 13 acting in conjunction with the collar member 19 which cannot rotate relative to the plunger because of the complementary shape of the rod member 16 and the opening 21 in the collar member, relative rotation of the container and housing will move the plunger longitudinally of the product container. Rotation of these parts in the proper direction will thereby cause a dispensing of the product into the brush 11.

After the applicator has been used for the desired purpose, the removal of the cover from the position shown in FIG. 3 will permit the spring 22 to automatically move the product container and brush into their retracted position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Now the cover may be secured over the open end of the housing to completely enclose the brush.

The above description has been made with reference to the presently preferred embodiment of the invention; however, it is to be understood that various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A product applicator comprising:

(a) a tubular housing having an open forward end, a rearward end and at least one longitudinaliy extending opening intermediate its ends;

(b) a complementary shaped product container for holding 'a flowable product therein, said container having a dispensing end facing the open end of said housing and being slidably positioned within said housing between an extended operative dispensing position and a retracted position;

(c) brush means fixed to the dispensing end of said container;

(d) a tube member connecting the interior of said container with an interior portion of said brush means;

(e) plunger means slidably positioned within said container adjacent its rearward end;

(f) selectively operable means for moving said plunger toward the dispensing end of said container to dispense product from said container and into said brush;

(g) means urging said container into said retracted position;

(h) positioning means operatively connected to said container and extending outwardly through the openings in said housing intermediate its ends; and

(i) a cover member adapted to be slidably received over either end of said housing for enclosing said container within said housing when disposed over the `open end of said housing and for engaging said positioning means to move said container to its operative dispensing position when slid over the rearward end of said housing.

2. A product applicator according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) said selectively operable means for moving said plunger toward the dispensing end of said container means is disposed in operative position only when said container is in its operative dispensing position.

3. A product applicator according to claim 2 further including:

(a) means for releasably holding said cover member on the rearward end of said housing in engagement with said positioning means when said container is in said extended dispensing position.

4. A product applicator comprising:

(a) a tubular housing having an open forward end, a

rearward end, and a plurality of longitudinally extending openings intermediate said ends;

(b) a product holding container slidably positioned within said housing between a retracted position and an extended, operative dispensing position and having a dispensing end facing outwardly of said housing through the open end thereof and a rearward end facing toward the rearward end of said housing.

(c) a support member xed to the rearward end of said container and having a threaded bore extending therethrough in a direction longitudinally of said container;

(d) plunger means slidably positioned within said container adjacent its rearward end;

(e) a threaded rod member fixed to said plunger and extending through said bore in threaded engagement therewith;

(f) collar means positioned within said housing in operative engagement with the rearward end of said container and in sliding, surrounding, non-rotative engagement with said rod;

(g) lug members fixed to said collar means and projecting through the longitudinally extending openings of said housing whereby relative rotative movement of said container and housing will cause said plunger to slide Within said container in a direction longitudinally of said housing; and

(h) a cover member adapted to be slidably received over either end of said housing for enclosing said container within said housing when slid yinto a first position over the open end of said housing and for moving said lug members in said longitudinal openings toward the forward end of said housing and said container into operative dispensing position when slid into a second position over the rearward end of said housing.

5. A product applicator according to claim 4 further including:

(a) means disposed within said housing for urging said container into retracted position with the rearward end thereof in abutment with said collar and with the lug members in abutment with the rearward end of said longitudinally extending openings.

6. A product applicator according to claim 5 wherein:

(a) said last mentioned means comprises a compression spring disposed between said housing and container with one end engaging the open end of said housing and the other end engaging the rearward end of said container.

7. A product applicator according to claim 6 further including including:

(a) brush means fixed to the dispensing end of said container;

(b) tube means connecting the interior of said container with an interior portion of said brush means; and (c) a flowable product disposed within said container between its dispensing end and said plunger means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 851,587 4/1907 Clark 15--555 2,461,790 2/ 1949 Vaughn 132--88.7 2,789,304 4/ 1957 Leavin 206-56 3,002,517 10/ 1961 Pitton 132-65 RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner. G. E. MCNEILL, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent No. 3,359,992 December 26, 1967 Frank Cshek et al.

It s hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4, line 72, strike out "means"; column 6, line Z7, for the claim reference numeral "9" read 8 Signed and sealed this 18th day of February 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A PRODUCT APPLICATOR COMPRISING: (A) A TUBULAR HOUSING HAVING AN OPEN FORWARD END, A REARWARD END AND AT LEAST ONE LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING OPENING INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS; (B) A COMPLEMENTARY SHAPED PRODUCT CONTAINER FOR HOLDING A FLOWABLE PRODUCT THEREIN, SAID CONTAINER HAVING A DISPENSING END FACING THE OPEN END OF SAID HOUSING AND BEING SLIDABLY POSITIONED WITHIN SAID HOUSING BETWEEN AN EXTENDED OPERATIVE DISPENSING POSITION AND RETRACTED POSITION; (C) BRUSH MEANS FIXED TO THE DISPENSING END OF SAID CONTAINER; (D) A TUBE MEMBER CONNECTING THE INTERIOR OF SAID CONTAINER WITH AN INTERIOR PORTION OF SAID BRUSH MEANS; (E) PLUNGER MEANS SLIDABLY POSITIONED WITHIN SAID CONTAINER ADJACENT ITS REARWARD END; (F) SELECTIVELY OPERABLE MEANS FOR MOVING SAID PLUNGER TOWARD THE DISPENSING END OF SAID CONTAINER TO DISPENSE PRODUCT FROM SAID CONTAINER AND INTO SAID BRUSH; (G) MEANS URGING SAID CONTAINER INTO SAID RETRACTED POSITION; (H) POSITIONING MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID CONTAINER AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THROUGH THE OPENINGS IN SAID HOUSING INTERMEDIATE ITS END; AND (I) A COVER MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE SLIDABLY RECEIVED OVER EITHER END OF SAID HOUSINGG FOR ENCLOSING SAID CONTAINER WITHIN SAID HOUSING WHEN DISPOSED OVER THE OPEN END OF SAID HOUSING AND FOR ENGAGING SAID POSITIONING MEANS TO MOVE SAID CONTAINER TO ITS OPERATIVE DISPENSING POSITION WHEN SLID OVER THE REARWARD END OF SAID HOUSING. 